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Devices with mechanical drivers for displaceable elementsDevices with mechanical drivers for displaceable elements description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20050285479, Devices with mechanical drivers for displaceable elements. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND [0001] Mechanical drivers (or motors) are used in a wide variety of different applications ranging from optics, microscopy, robotics, and analytical instruments. In many of these applications, it is desirable for the mechanical driver to be small in size and light in weight, while being operable to move and position one or more components within a device with moderate speed and high precision. [0002] Semiconductor fabrication technology is being used to develop devices that include mechanical drivers that are formed with micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) that have micron-scale features. Various MEMS-based devices, such as actuators, acoustic devices, filters, resonators and sensors, are formed of active materials that change in size or shape in response to applied energy, which may be in the form of an electrical field, a magnetic field, an electromagnetic field, or thermal energy. Induced strain actuators (or morphs) bend as a result of internal moments that are induced by the applied energy. Induced strain actuators convert induced strains into moments that cause the constituent active materials to bend in a controlled way. Induced strain actuators may be formed of, for example, piezoelectric materials, ferroelectric materials, electrorestrictive materials, magnetorestrictive materials, and thermally expansive materials. [0003] Different types of MEMS-based micro-motor designs have been proposed. Many such micro-motor designs are driven by electrostatic forces. In a typical approach, the micro-motor includes a rotor and a stator. The stator includes electrodes that are placed around the rotor. A voltage differential is applied between a selected group of stator electrodes and the rotor. The voltage differential creates an electric field that rotates the rotor into alignment with the selected group of stator electrodes. The rotor is rotated continuously by powering different sets of stator electrodes in a synchronized way. [0004] In another approach, a linear bidirectional motor is driven by one or more MEMS-based induced strain actuators. These actuators incorporate a plurality of multi-clamps that ride on and alternately engage rails that are located on the base of the motor. The multi-clamps are driven by electrically energized auxiliary actuators. The operation of the multi-clamps is synchronized with the operation of a main actuator that alternately extends and contracts. The coordinated operation the main and auxiliary actuators results in incremental movement of the multi-clamp assembly along the rails. SUMMARY [0005] In one aspect of the invention, a device includes a displaceable element, a driver, and a controller. The driver includes a plurality of actuatable drive elements. Each drive element has a respective engagement area that is operable to move from a respective start position to a respective end position and back to the start position. During movement from the start position to the end position the engagement area is engaged with the displaceable element and applies a mechanical force urging the displaceable element to move. During movement from the end position to the start position the engagement area is disengaged from the displaceable element. The controller is configured to choreograph the operation of the actuatable drive elements in moving the displaceable element. [0006] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, including the drawings and the claims. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0007] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a device that includes a displaceable element, a driver, and a controller. [0008] FIG. 2A is a diagrammatic view of the path of an engagement area of an actuatable drive element during operation of an implementation of the device of FIG. 1. [0009] FIG. 2B is a diagrammatic view of the path of an engagement area of an actuatable drive element during operation of an implementation of the device of FIG. 1. [0010] FIGS. 3A-3D are diagrammatic side views of an actuatable drive element in an implementation of the device of FIG. 1 at different positions during a cycle of operation. [0011] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method of operating the implementation of the device shown in FIGS. 3A-3D. [0012] FIG. 5A is a diagrammatic top view of an implementation of the device of FIG. 1 in which the driver is configured to rotate the displaceable element. [0013] FIG. 5B is a diagrammatic top view of an implementation of the device of FIG. 1 in which the driver is configured to move the displaceable element along a linear path. [0014] FIG. 6A is a diagrammatic top view of an actuatable drive element with an engagement area at a start position in an implementation of the device of FIG. 1. [0015] FIG. 6B is a diagrammatic top view of the actuatable drive element shown in FIG. 6A actuated such that the engagement area at an end position. [0016] FIG. 7A is a diagrammatic side view of an implementation of the actuatable drive element shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B in an un-actuated state. [0017] FIG. 7B is a diagrammatic side view of an implementation of the actuatable drive element shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B in an actuated state. [0018] FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic top view of a pair of actuatable drive elements with respective engagement areas in un-actuated states in an implementation of the device of FIG. 1. [0019] FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic top view of an implementation of the device of FIG. 1 in which the driver is configured to rotate the displaceable element. [0020] FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a camera incorporating an implementation of the device shown in FIG. 1. [0021] FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view of an implementation of the lens assembly of the camera shown in FIG. 10. Continue reading about Devices with mechanical drivers for displaceable elements... Full patent description for Devices with mechanical drivers for displaceable elements Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Devices with mechanical drivers for displaceable elements patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Devices with mechanical drivers for displaceable elements or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Driving circuit for piezoelectric transformer, cold-cathode tube light-emitting apparatus, liquid crystal panel and device with built-in liquid crystal panel Next Patent Application: Moving mechanism using a piezoelectric actuator and a magnetic disk apparatus having such a moving mechanism Industry Class: Electrical generator or motor structure ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Devices with mechanical drivers for displaceable elements patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.21442 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Tyco , Unilever , Warner-lambert , 3m 174 |
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